Armagh City 9 Chimney Corner 2

A NINE-GOAL blast from Armagh City completed a comprehensive Belfast Telegraph Championship Two victory over lack-lustre Chimney Corner at Holm Park on Saturday.

And a double for prolific scorer Stephen Murray set a new club record for the home side as he recorded his 36th and 37th goals of the season.

The home side started strongly and opened their account in the fourth minute when centre-back Dara Noonan stooped to head home from close range.

After a concerted period of pressure City doubled their tally on 26 minutes when captain Liam Cullen unleased a powerful 30-yard effort which flew past bewildered Corner ‘keeper Paddy Rogan into the top corner of the net.

Five minutes later it was 3-0 to Armagh when a fine run and cross by Shea McGerrigan was completed by a tap-in at the back-post by the rampant Murray.

However, Corner were given a lifeline on 41 minutes when a mistimed pass went astray and Jamie Willighan latched onto the ball and curled it past Armagh ‘keeper Sean Morgan for their opener.

This setback was quickly rectified as, just before the break, the home sided added their fourth when a superb through ball from Cullen was confidently converted by Murray.

And City were immediately back on the goal trail when Ryan McGerrigan made it 5-1 from long-range after an initial stinging shot from Ultan Lennon rebounded off an upright.

Half-time: Armagh City 5 Chimney Corner 1.

On 55 minutes the score became 6-1 when Gavin McParland tucked the ball into the roof of the net after being set up by his partner-in-crime Murray. And, moments later, the scorer collected the ball 25-yards out and drilled home a low shot past the bemused Rogan for the seventh score. And the dangerous McParland followed-up a short time later when a deep cross from the right by Kevin Keegan was met at the back-post by the big striker who smashed the ball home with aplomb to grab his hat-trick and make the score 8-1.

On the stroke of full-time City’s Matthew Hynds popped up to send another rasping 25-yard shot into the visitor’s net to bring the rout to 9-1.

In injury-time Corner did get a further consolation score for their efforts when the tireless Christopher McElroy took advantage of a defensive mix-up to tap the ball into the Armagh net from close-range.

The visitor’s cause was not helped when they lost the services of defender Mark Butler during the second period after a nasty challenge on the rampant Shea McGerrigan.